Suburban Lancaster Co. Late Spring 2017

home appeal LATE SPRING 2017

home / garden / renovation

Suburban Lancaster Co.

townlively.com

Celebrate Spring With An Eco-Friendly Focus Beyond Pretty: Gardening For All Five Senses Picking The Perfect Pool The Power In A Paintbrush: Renew Your Kitchen With A Coat Of Paint Published by Engle Printing & Publishing Co., Inc.

Celebrate Spring M

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With An Eco-Friendly Focus

he arrival of warmer weather means different things to different people. For many people, the spring season provides a great opportunity to freshen up their homes, de-clutter, and complete some spring cleaning and maintenance projects.

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When planning home improvement projects, those looking to be eco-friendly can choose a project and then look for ways to make the project more environmentally friendly. This approach may not only benefit the environment, but also homeowners’ bottom lines.

M Interior decorating Longer days and warmer temperatures often translate into wanting to freshen up the interior of a home.

Heavy draperies and comforters are put away, and lighter fabrics are taken out of storage. Whenever possible, homeowners can reuse or repurpose items they already have rather than purchasing new items.

Longer drapes can be cut and hemmed to be used as window treatments in other rooms. Making a patchwork blanket out of old T-shirts is a crafty project that makes use of items that would otherwise be destined for landfills.

When laundering linens, homeowners can skip the energy-using dryer and let items line dry in the sun and fresh air.

If homeowners decide to purchase some new items, they can look for products made from sustainable or organic fabrics. Hemp and bamboo textiles have grown in popularity.

Hemp and bamboo plants grow

quickly, and their durability makes Even though the weather may invite open windows and free-flowthese materials smart choices. ing air, plants can filter and purify When replacing items around the the air indoors. The NASA Clean house, consider donating older Air Study, led in association with items to a charitable organization. the Associated Landscape Contractors of America, found that Flowers and plants certain common indoor plants natSpring and summer call to mind urally remove toxic agents such as beautiful blooming plants. Relying benzene, formaldehyde, and trion native, sustainable plants is chloroethylene from the air. practical, environmentally friendly, Efficient air cleaning is accomand cost-effective. plished with at least one plant per 100 square feet of home or office According to the National Wildlife space.

Federation, sustainable plants are native plants. Native plants sustain Proper disposal local wildlife more effectively than Spring cleaning is another tradinon-native alternatives, so hometion for many families come the owners should include native end of winter. Many people use plants in their sustainable garden. spring as a time to go through closNative plants also are less reliant ets and garages to remove items on pesticides and herbicides to they no longer use or need. In an keep them healthy and viable. effort to clean up fast, some peoHomeowners should not forget ple may dispose of chemical prodto bring plants indoors as well. ucts, paints, treated lumber, and

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suburban lancaster co. home appeal [2] late spring

many other items in ways that can be damaging to the environment.

Responsible homeowners should always learn local municipal guidelines for proper disposal of potentially harmful products. Area recycling centers may have drop-off areas for stains and paints, used motor oil, and other potentially harmful products.

Before discarding something, homeowners should see if it can be donated or sold. This will result in fewer items ending up in landfills.

Homeowners should exercise caution outdoors as well. Runoff from cleaning products used on home siding or driveways can leach into the surrounding soil or find its way into sewage drains that ultimately direct fluids to public waterways. Choose environmentally responsible products whenever possible.

Spring is here, and folks can embrace the glowing sunshine by giving their home a seasonal refresh and sprucing up their space.

Update accessories. Add textures and patterns to rooms by incorporating woven baskets, which also help to contain clutter. Find colorful throw pillows or a rug to complement existing furniture. A rug can inexpensively brighten any room. Incorporate mirrors, glossy paint, and glass to reflect the abundant natural spring light.

Try to cull from existing items or find items at yard sales to be more environmentally friendly.

Bring the outside in.

Homeowners can fill assorted mismatched vases and jars with blooms and place these pops of color on tables, mantles, windowsills, and dressers.

Creative folks can gather other natural items like twisted branches, unusual pebbles, shells, and seed pods and fill simple containers to evoke the essence of the outdoors.

Move furniture. Novice decorators can replace their stale furniture arrangement for a fresh, vibrant feel. Homeowners can move a large, solar heat-collecting sofa away from the window to maximize the solar performance in the living room. Change is good, and moving furniture around gives it new life and helps owners to appreciate it in a new way.

Change bedding. Now that the weather is warmer, homeowners can change out flannel sheets and remove warm, thick bedcovers. As the house naturally gets hotter, light linen or crisp cotton sheets will help the bed to feel cooler. Not only will homeowners sleep more comfortably, but they can save energy costs.

A lighter duvet combined with some new decorations for the bedroom will help the bedroom “spring forward.”

Rotate art. Dressing each room for spring impacts the mood.

Homeowners can display different pieces of artwork for each season. Pictures of budding trees, green leaves, and spring flowers help to shrug off the winter gray. Homeowners can choose art that moves and excites them. Affordable art is all around, and some homeowners may be motivated to pick up a brush or camera and create their own.

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Spring Style Made Simple

Beyond Pretty Gardening For

All Five Senses

add visual appeal to a yard, but Gardens gardens also can appeal to individuals’

senses of smell, taste, touch, and sound.

Sight

Taste

Aesthetic appeal is one of the most sought-after benefits of gardening; however, many homeowners put in so much effort planting for one particular season that they may not give thought to ensuring the garden looks vibrant no matter the time of year.

Gardeners can research planting zones to find plants that will blossom at different times of the year so they can enjoy impressive, aesthetically appealing gardens year-round. Spring bulbs can bloom early on, while annual and perennial summer favorites will thrive under the summer sun.

Beautyberry and caryopteris will fill out in the autumn, while holly or mahonia can look lovely in the winter.

Gardeners can expand their gardens to include fruit-bearing trees and rows of vegetables and herbs.

Produce can be harvested from early spring through late fall depending on the crops planted.

Smell

Gardeners can dot their landscapes with aromatic trees, shrubs, and flowers that will make stepping out into the garden that much more special. Some of the more fragrant plants include gardenia, dianthus, calendula, lavender, and jasmine. Shrubs such as fragrant pineapple broom, Anne Russell viburnum, and Christmas box can add fragrance as well.

Sound

The lively sounds of the garden are created by the wildlife that comes to pollinate and enjoy the environment gardeners have created. By choosing indigenous plants, gardeners can be sure that insects and small critters will seek refuge within the foliage.

Songbirds also will add character to a yard. The Audubon Society suggests including a water source and a songbird border of shrubs along the property’s edge. Provide food sources and make sure they are located a fair distance from the main action of the yard so as not to scare off birds.

Wait for musical chickadees, goldfinches, orioles, and cardinals to arrive and enjoy the accommodations.

Touch Apart from including trees and shrubs of various textures in the garden, look for other ways to stimulate a tactile response. Water features add relaxing sound and beauty. Stones, moss, mulch, and other accents have varied textures that can stimulate the sense of touch in various ways.

Don’t forget to include a sitting area so that you can immerse yourself fully in the garden.

Go beyond visual appeal when designing a garden. When gardeners tap into all five senses, they can enjoy their landscapes even more than they already do.

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Avoid Aches And Pains When Gardening time. Gardeners who are leaning down or working on their hands and knees should stand up to take breaks every 20 minutes or the moment aches and pains start. · Maintain good posture. Maintain good posture to prevent back injuries. Gardening back braces can protect the back by providing support and making it easier for gardeners to maintain their posture. Tool pouches attached to gardening stools or chairs also can be less taxing on the back than gardening belts tied around the waist.

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Veteran gardeners can attest that gardening can contribute to nagging aches and pains that can force even the most ardent greenthumbers indoors. Gardening is a physical activity that, despite its peaceful nature, can be demanding on the body. Thankfully, there are several ways that gardening enthusiasts can prevent aches and pains: · Use ergonomic gardening tools. Injuries or aches and pains affecting the back, wrists, and hands are among the most common physical problems gardeners endure. Look for ergonomic tools that reduce the strain on these areas of the body. Even arthritis sufferers who love to garden may find that ergonomic tools make it possible for them to spend more time in their gardens. · Alternate tasks. Repetitive-strain injuries can affect gardeners who spend long periods of time performing the same activity in their gardens. By alternating tasks during gardening sessions, gardeners can reduce their risk of suffering repetitive strain injuries. Alternate tasks not just on muscle groups worked, but also level of difficulty. Remember to include some simple jobs so the body gets a break. · Take frequent breaks. Frequent breaks can help combat the stiffness and muscle aches that may not appear until gardeners finish their gardening sessions. Breaks help to alleviate muscles or joints that can become overtaxed when gardening for long, uninterrupted periods of

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Many homeowners feel pools or spas are must-have features as they attempt to turn their homes into their own personal oases. The decision to get a pool or a hot tub is not one to take lightly. As significant purchases, pools and spas can affect the value of a home and also require various safety modifications. Taking a thoughtful approach when considering adding one or both of these features to their home can help homeowners rest easy knowing they made the right decision. ¡ Research first. When making any decision, it’s best to be well-informed. Read reviews on products and find out the base prices of certain pool models for a system of comparison. Choose the type and size of pool that is desired. Other factors, such as the material used in the pool (i.e., concrete, metal, fiberglass, or vinyl) and filtration methods, also can affect the price, so consider each of these factors carefully before making a decision. ¡ Determine the reason for wanting a pool or spa. The type of pool or spa ultimately chosen should depend on how homeowners plan to use the pool. If the pool is mainly for family entertainment, then homeowners may want to add mood lighting or special landscaping features. If the point is simply something in which to cool off, a basic model may be most practical. If a spa is intended for therapeutic purposes, purchasers can look for ones with multipositional water jets or other specialized features. A large pool with a deep diving area is not always best, either. Young children and many adults do not frequently use the deep end, and it may end up as wasted pool space. ¡ Learn about zoning laws and other ordinances. Rules regarding pool placement and size will vary depending on local laws.

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Always consult with the town’s municipal office and get the proper permits. Otherwise, homeowners may face fines and be forced to spend more to fix problems that need to be addressed. · Find a good time to buy. Fall and winter are some of the best times to get deals on pool and spa equipment because it’s no longer prime swimming season; however, there are deals to be had come spring as well. Retailers may deeply discount last year’s models to make room for new inventory. Buyers always can negotiate if the price is just a bit beyond reach. Retailers may be motivated to make sales in the offseason, so shoppers should try to use that motivation to their advantage.

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· Recognize there will be extra costs. Some retailers sell pools and spas but do not arrange for installation. Realize that an in-ground pool will require excavation, and the yard space may need to be regraded to allow for rain run-off. Fees associated with electricians and landscapers are some additional costs to factor in.

It is important to understand the bigger picture and account for the total cost of modifying the yard. · Inquire about insurance. New pool owners should speak with the pool installer about any liability and compensation insurance they may carry to protect in the event of an accident during the installation of the pool. Reputable builders should be fully insured.

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Many homeowners dream of giving their kitchens a full-scale remodel. Though such a project can give a kitchen an entirely new look, that look does not come cheap. According to Remodeling magazine’s 2013 “Cost vs. Value Report,” homeowners can expect to spend more than $53,000 on a major kitchen remodel and recoup just below 70 percent of that cost at resale. So while the idea of a full-scale kitchen remodel might be a dream project, the cost of such an undertaking may be beyond a homeowner’s budget.

But homeowners who cannot afford a full remodel can still give their kitchens a new look for relatively little money. Painting kitchen cabinets a new color or simply giving fading cabinets a fresh coat of paint can instantly add life to a kitchen, giving the room an entirely different feel without breaking the bank. The following are a few tips for homeowners planning to paint their kitchen cabinets.

Assess the existing cabinets. Some cabinet materials, including wood and metal, can be repainted without much of a fuss. But other materials, including plastic laminate, are not so amenable to repainting and will likely require specialty paints. Homeowners with plastic laminate cabinets should first paint a spot or two with a sample paint, being careful to choose a spot that’s concealed. If the paint

bonds well to the plastic laminate, then they can go forward and buy enough paint to redo all of the cabinets. If the paint does not take, homeowners should consult a professional to find a paint that’s likely to be a better fit. Expect this process to be one of trial and error.

Plan for ornate cabinets to take a little longer. Painting projects will go faster when cabinets have flat fronts, but they can take considerably longer when cabinets are unique and more detailed.

Homeowners with ornate cabinets should factor this extra time into the schedule.

Remove the doors and hardware. When painting cabinets, it’s best to essentially disassemble them, removing the doors, handles, knobs, latches, and any additional hardware. When removing hardware, be sure to set it aside in clearly marked plastic bags so it’s easier to reassemble the cabinets once the fresh coat of paint has dried.

As doors are removed, number each door and its corresponding location, much like products that require assembly are numbered at the factory. This makes it easier to reassemble and ensures the cabinets and their hinges will align properly once the painting is finished.

Don’t paint dirty surfaces. Cabinet surfaces have likely collected their share of dirt, grease, and grime over the years, so homeowners should be sure to clean these surfaces thoroughly before painting. Once surfaces have been cleaned, rinse them off and give them ample time to dry.

Sand the surfaces. Once the surfaces have been cleaned and are completely dry, it’s time to start sanding them. Lightly sand the doors using a wood sanding block, working to create a firm base to which fresh paint can easily adhere. Areas that are most exposed to wear and tear may require some extra elbow grease, and some areas may be especially flaky. When old paint is flaking off, this means the previous finish did not adhere very well to the surface, which is not necessarily uncommon in kitchens, where moisture and grease residue can make it harder for paint to adhere to the surface. In such instances, sand the flaky areas to the bare wood before spot-priming with a primer or sealer designed for areas with heavy staining. After all of the sanding is complete, vacuum the surfaces to ensure there is no leftover sanding dust before painting.

Apply primer-sealer. Primer-sealer ensures the fresh paint will bond well to the surfaces, preventing conditions like flaking in the future.

Paint the cabinets. After the primer-sealer has been applied, it’s time to paint the cabinets. Begin with the inside edges and openings of the face frames, followed by the outer cabinet sides and then the front of the frames. Then move on to the cabinet doors and any drawer fronts that will need painting as well. When painting, opt for thin coats, which dry more quickly and also create fewer visible brushstrokes. When applying multiple coats, allow the paint ample time to dry between coats. Four hours between coats is a good rule of thumb, and it is a good idea to lightly resand all surfaces before applying the second and final coat of paint.

Reassemble the cabinets. Once the final coat of paint has fully dried, carefully reassemble the cabinets and then enjoy the gleaming and inexpensive new look of freshly painted cabinets.

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